Pilot-scale evaluation of a trickling filter for domestic greywater treatment

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21142/SS-0701-2026-e145

Keywords:

Domestic greywater, trickling filter, decentralized treatment, domestic wastemanagement, water treatment

Abstract

Inadequate treatment of domestic greywater constitutes a growing environmental concern in urban areas with limited sanitation infrastructure. In this study, we evaluated, at pilot scale, the performance of a trickling filter for the treatment of domestic greywater in Moyobamba, Peru. The system was constructed using locally available materials and operated under real household conditions in a single-family dwelling. Monitoring was conducted over four operational periods (30, 45, 60 and 93 days), through the analysis of physicochemical and microbiological parameters, including pH, turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅), thermotolerant coliforms, nitrates, phosphates and temperature. Each period corresponded to a sampling campaign using composite influent and effluent samples, without additional analytical or experimental replicates; therefore, the results should be interpreted as representative of each evaluated condition. Overall, reductions were observed in turbidity (68.9–97.1%), TSS (66.7–98.5%) and BOD₅ (57.3–91.3%), along with decreases in thermotolerant coliforms, while nitrates and phosphates showed greater variability. Both pH and temperature remained relatively stable throughout the evaluation period. Taken together, the results suggest that a trickling filter can contribute to improving greywater quality in decentralized systems; however, further studies with greater replication will be required, in order to confirm performance under different operating conditions.

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Published

2026-05-08